Indicating apparatus



3&1; wil L. A, MEACHAM 2,414,477

INDIGATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 5, 1943 whens-sheet 2 8% 8m u Q6 on. .235. .M Sun:

8 Q kevfiqiii QEQHRQQ N32 95:: kaQQqah-Q QQMHLQU Patented Jan. 21, 1947 S 1 INDICATING APPARATUS Larned A. Meacham, Summit, N. J., assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 5, 1943, Serial No. 505,025 16 Claims. (Cl. 161-15) STATES TENT OFFICE This invention relates to electrical indicating The disadvantagesmentioned above are avoided apparatus and particularly to apparatus for indiin accordance with the present invention by emcating thedelay interval between pulses of a ploying a generator of constant high frequency series of reference pulses and corresponding waves for controlling the production of timing pulses of a series of pulses which are delayed with 5 pulses having a frequency of recurrence preferrespect to the reference pulses. I ably equal to the frequency of said wavesand by Such delay indicating apparatus may be used, generating reference pulses having a lower frefor example, for determining the range of a quency of recurrence which is preferably a subdistant object by measuring the delay. interval multiple of the frequency of recurrence of the between pulses which are radiated'to the object timing pulses. These reference pulses, or pulses and corresponding echo pulses received from the in synchronism with the reference pulses, are. object and it may also be used for calibrating transmitted towards an object, the distance of such range measuring apparatus. The delay may which is to be measured, or impressed upon a be measured in units of distance, a delay of one delay or range measuring ap aratus which is t microsecond being equivalent to a distance of be calibrated. The generated waves may have a 164 yards, approximately. frequ ncy' f 27- kilocycles -0.01 per cent for In my applications, SeriaTNo. 491,791, filed example, and the timing pulses may h ve th June 22, 1943, and Serial No. 505,024, filed Oct. same frequency of recurrence so that the inter- 5, 1943, there is disclosed electrical delay or range val between successive timing pulses is 3.05 micromeasuring apparatus of the type employing a timseconds, approximately; Since 3.05 microseconds ing wave generator which isstarted repeatedly in is the time required for a radiated pulse to travel synchronism with the transmission of recurrent to an object and forits echo to return when the pulses towards an object, the distance to which object is at a distance of 500 yards, each timing is to be determined, the timing wave being genpulsemay be said to be delayed 500 yards with erated during a portion of each period which respect to the timing pulse which precedes it. separates successive transmitted pulses. A dis- The frequencyof recurrence of the transmitted advantage of range measuring apparatus of this pulses, or of the pulses impressed upon the range type is that frequency variations of the wave prounit to be calibrated, may vary and be of the duced by the timing wave generator may occur order of Ann of the timing pulse frequency, for notwithstanding precautions taken to prevent example. such variations, thus necessitating recalibration In accordance with specific embodiments of and readjustment ofthe range measuring appathe invention shown and described herein for ratus from time to time. i the purposeof illustration, there is employed for i There has also been proposed in an a pl i n producing an electrical wave having a fundaof W. C. Tinus, Serial No. 339,585, filed June 8, mentalfrequency which is a submultiple of the 1940, a range measuring system in which there frequency of the wave generated by the. master are transmitted towards an object a series of a constant frequency oscillator, amultivibrator cirpulses having atfrequemy recurrence'equal cuit having adjustable means for varying over that of a relat ly w freq nc Oscillator an V a wide range the frequency of the wave generated in which harmonics of this frequency are selected 40 by the multivibrator. The frequency of recur- ,for pro u p od ca y recurrent timing pulses rence of the reference pulses which are produced having a relatively high frequency of recurrence. is equal-to the frequency of the wave produced A disadvantage of this system is that the transby the multivibrator circuit. The timing pulses m t pulses must recur periodically wher n are impressed upon the multivibrator circuit for aperiodic transmitted pulse rate is often preferred causing successive half-cycle of t wave probecause a range indicator employing a. variable duced by the multivibrator t be t t transmitted pulse rate is less subject to errors due incidentauywith timing-pulses to cause the period to interference where several range indicators are of each of the reference pulses to be an integral operating in close proximity for example More multiple of the period of the timing pulses, al-

over, in that system filters are required for se- I ,lecting harmonics of the master oscillator fre 0 though the frequency of the multmbrator h the i justable and may vary from time to time indecontmnmg t e produc 1 of t m pendently of any adjustment. Moreover, there It is an object of the present invention topromay be impressed u n h multivibrator circuit vide novel delay measuring apparatuswhich does in addition to the tuning pulses a voltage from a not have the disadvantages mentioned above. source such as a buzzer, an oscillator, etc, for

trolling the deflection cathode raybeam supra, for example. Such causing the multivibrator frequency to vary while maintaining it at a submultiple (of varying order) of the timing pulse frequency. Pulses of the submultiple frequency are utilized for conof a cathode ray beam along one coordinate and the timing pulses and pulses in synchronism with the reference pulses are utilized for controlling the deflection of the beam along a second coordinate so that the patterns produced upon a luminescent screen to which the cathode ray beam is directed appear stationary and be utilized for controlling the deflection of the a first series of pulses in synchronism with the reference pulses but delayed with respect to corresponding reference pulses by an amount which is to be measured, and a second series of pulses in synchronism with the reference pulses and delayed with respect to corresponding reference pulses by a measured amount which may be varied to bring the pulses of the second series into coinemployed for maintaining the pulses of the first and second series in phase with respect to each erence to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is ablock diagram of a range unit calibrating apparatus embodying the invention:

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing the apparatus of Fig; l in greater detail;

Fig. 3 consists of curves to which reference will be made in explaining the operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a modification of the calibrating apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

s Fig. 5 consists of curves to which reference will be made in explaining the operation of th callbrating apparatus of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a range indicating apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in the block diagram of Fig. 1 an apparatus for calibrating a range unit I! which may be of the type disclosed in my copending applications, a range unit generates a series of output pulses which are delayed with respect to corresponding input pulses by an amount which may be varied and produces an indication of the delay in yards, for example. There. is provided a constant frequency oscillator H] which generates a wave of 327.80 kilocycles,

for example, as depicted at a in Fig. 3, and-this wave is impressed upon a timing pulse generator I l which generates periodic pulses I) having a frequency of recurrence equal to the frequency of the wave generated by the oscillator If]. These pulses are separated by a delay interval of 3.05 microseconds or 500 yards since the time required for a radiated pulse to travel to an object 500 yards away and for its echo to return is 3.05 microseconds. There is produced in a multivibrator circuit l2 a wave, as shown at c in Fig. 3, the fundamental frequency of which is adjustable and which may vary somewhat independently of any adjustment. each half-cycle of the wave 0 is started coincidently with one of the pulses b from the pulse generator H.

A wave (1 obtained from a wave the phase relationship of the pulses may be observed. Alternatively, there may along the second coordinate,"

7 duced in this circuit Under all conditions, however,

- the sweep circuit shaping circuit associated with the multivibrator circuit, together with the timing pulses from the generator 1 l, are impressed upon a selector circuit l3 which produces at its output a wave e having a steep wave front coincident with a selected timing pulse which occurs at a peak of each positive half-cycle of wave (1. The wave 8 is impressed upon an RC delay circuitv M. This circuit comprising capacitance and resistance in series and has a time constant which may be varied by changing the value of the capacitance or of the resistance in the circuit. There is proa wave having an exponentially rising portion which starts coincidentally with each steep wave front of the wave e and a wave 9 having pulses, the leading edges of which are delayed with respect to the start of each exponentially rising portion of the wave f by an amount determined by the time constant of the exponential circuit. The wave g is impressed upon the input of a pulse amplifier l5 for producing a narrow output pulse h substantially coincident with the leading edge of each pulse of wave 9. The pulses h which have a frequency of recurrence which is a submultiple of the frequency of the timing pulses b are impressed upon the range unit I! to be calibrated to produce at the output of the range unit similar pulses i having the same frequency of recurrence but which are delayed with respect to the corresponding pulses h by an amount determined by the setting of the pulse delay means in the range unit. The pulses i from the output of the range unit and the timing pulses b are impressed upon the vertical deflecting plates 2|v and 22 respectively of a cathode ray tube. A horizontal sweep wave produced by a sweep circuit I6 is impressed upon the horizontal deflecting plates 23 and 24 of the cathode ray tube, th sweep circuit being controlled either by pulses 1' from the pulse amplifier l5 which are coincident with pulses h or by pulses R: from the multivibrator circuit which are coincident with the beginning of each negative halfcycle of wave 0, the pulses 7' and k for controlling being selected by a switch 25.

Since at any time the pulses i, 7' and have the same frequency of recurrence which is a submultiple of the frequency of the timing pulses b, the visual indications produced by pulses b and pulses 1 upon the luminescent screen of cathode ray tube 20 will appear to be stationary except when the delay setting of the RC delay circuit l4 or that of the range unit I1 is being changed. The pulses a and k are provided for alternatively controlling the sweep circuit l6 so that the sweep wave can be started either coincidentally with the pulses h .or approximately mid-way between two successive pulses 71.. If the pulses i appear near an edge of the cathode ray tube screen when the pulses 7' are used for synchronizing the horizontal sweep wave, for example, the pulses i can be made to appear near the center of the screen by shifting to pulses k.

The method of testing a range unit l1-is to initially setthe unit for any desired delay between the pulses h and i. The pulses z are then brought into alignment with one of the timing pulses b upon the cathode ray tube screen by r varying the time constant of the RC delay circuit I4 by turning a knob 55 on the shaft of the condenser in the RC circuit. The delay setting of the range unit I1 is then changed with respect to the initial setting by steps of 500 yards which should bring the pulses i into alignment or coincidence with successive timing pulses. If

i the previous passage through resistor R0. v

is short enough so that the cathode of tube V2 i cathode potential cathode potential crease in grid potential, so that the grid beanger"? to the grounded negative terminal of voltage source 00. Filter condenser CIA of 0.1 microfarad is connected from the negative terminal of resistor R to ground. A 22,000 ohm resistor Ri connects the control electrode of tube VIA to ground. The anode current circuit for triode VlB may be traced from the negative terminal of resistor R5 through 500 microhenry inductance Ll shunted by condensers C3 and C4 in series having'capacitances of 390 micromicrofarads and 010033 microf arad respectively, to the anode -of triode Vl B; and from the cathode through 2,200 ohm resistor R6 to ground. A- common terminal of condenser- C3, inductance Li and the anode of tube VB is connected through condenser C6 of 0.001 microfarad and 100 micromicrofarad variable condenser 05 to ground. The control grid of tube ViB is connected through 0.1 megohm leak resistor R0 to ground. The anode of triode VIA is connected through0001 microfarad condenser C2 to the control gridof triode W3 and the piezoelectric crystal is connected between the common terminal of condensersC3 and C0 to the control grid of triode VIA.

The 327.80 kilocycles sine wave a generated in the crystal control oscillator circuit having a peak amplitude of about 200 volts is impressed upon the pulse generating circuit ll by connecting the common terminal of condensers C5 and C6 to the control grid of electric discharge device V2, the cathode of which is connected. to

ground through 3,300 ohm resistor R8 shunted by 0.0047 micr0farad condenser C7. A 1 megohm resistor K7] is provided for connecting the controlgrid of tube V2 to ground. Anode potential is applied to the tube from the negative terminal of resistor R5 through 3,300 ohm resistor R0 and screen grid potential issupplied from the negative terminal of resistor R5 through- 1,000 ohm resistor Rlll. During the negative swing resistors Rid and Rl5. A similar and most of the positiverise of each cycle ofthe sine wave produced by the oscillator, tube V2 is cut-off and the'charge on condenser Cl; due to of anode current, leaks oif The time constant of ROCl falls nearly to ground potential before the increasing grid potential reaches a value for which anode current commences to how. This cut-oil point is reached when the grid potential is still about 70 volts below its positive peak value and hence the slope of thewave is steep at this point. The rapid passage of the grid potential through this cutoff value causes a sudden flow or anode current of sufficient amplitude to cause the voltage across condenser C1? to rise at nearly the same rate as the increase in grid potential. The thus follows the grid potential upwardabout 70 volts, Near the peak of the wave impressed upon the grid, the increase in is somewhat less than the incomes slightly positive with respect to the cathode and grid current flowsmomentarily to change the charge across condenser C5 due to the voltage drop across resistor R7, There is thus. produced a biasing potential; tor the grid of tube-V2 which leaks ofl through resistor R1 between the times when grid current flows. anode of tube V2is connected to ground through a differentiating circuit comprising 0.0033 microconnected by way of lead 20 to the vertical deflecting pla'te22 of thecathode ray tube 20.

There is provided an adjustable frequency multivibrator circuit comprising triodes V3A and is supplied from the 300 volt source 00 to tube VtA through a circuit comprising 1,000 ohm resistor Hi0, the negative terminal of resistor, Bill being connected to grid being: connected to the common terminal of circuit for biasing the grid of tube V33 may be traced from may be connected in parallel with condenser Ci5 by means of switches 02 and he, The frequency .by the multibetween 860 and 2170 cycles when condensers Cit, Cit, Cifi'and Cit are in circuit, and between 1760 and 4450 cycles when condensers frequency may vary somewhat independently of 0.003 microfarad condenser CIT pulses b ,ative pulse I) applied i tube V3B- is cidentally with timing pulse b.

tube V4.

from the 300 volt source through 1,000 ohm re- R24. the other thereon. When tube V3A is about to become conducting the leading edge of a negcauses the anode current to decrease suddenly with the result that the potential at the anode of V3B suddenly increases and a positive pulse is applied to the grid of tube vaa to start con- .duction of anode current through that tube. The first half-cycle of the potential wave c produced at the anode of tube .V3B is then initiated coincldentally with one of the timing pulses b. When about to become conducting it has been found that conduction is also started coin- This is believed to be caused by the potential of the grid of tube V33 becoming relatively more positive due to the rising, lagging edge of a v pulse 1). The start of each half-cycle of the wave produced in the multivibrator could also be made coincident with timing pulses b by ap plying the timing pulses to the grid of tube V3A as well as tothe tube V3B and having the pulse impressed upon'the grid of each tube due to the change in anodepotential of the other tube predominant over the pulse which is applied to the grid directly from the pulse generator H.

switch 25 is in its upper When of tube V3B'is connected to a differentiating circuit comprising 0.00022 microfarad condenser Cl8 and 10,000 ohm resistor R43 to ground to produce pulses submultiple of the frequency of the timing Pulses b, the pulses It being applied tothe horizontal sweep circuit 16.

The common condenser CH) and resistor R12 is connected to the control grid of electronic device V4of the selector circuit 13 for impressing thereon with respect to ground the potential wave d. The screengrid of tube V2 is connected through a coupling circuit comprising 0.0033 microfarad condenser C21 and 33,000 ohm resistor :R23 to ground for impressing" the timing pulses bupon the cathode of Anode potential is supplied to tube V4 sistor R28 and 0.22 megohm resistor R22. Positi ve biasing potential is supplied to the cathode of tube V4 by connecting it to the common terminal of resistor R23 and 0.22 megohm resistor terminal of which is connected to the negative terminal of resistor R28. The bias thus produced is sufficient to maintain the tube in a normally non-conducting state. Filter condenser CIC connectsthe negative terminal of resistorR28 to ground. Atthe time that the potential wave at impressed upon the control grid of tube V4 is at or near its positive peak, the

negative pulse b impressed upon causes the tube V4 suddenly t draw spac its cathode rent and. as a result,the potential at the anode is sharply decreased as shown at e in Fig. 3. The tube V4 is energizedby several of the succeeding timing pulses b to produce the wave shown at e at the tube anode because the positive pedestal wave 11 tapers off to'zero over a period including several timing pulses b. The wave e is applied to the control grid of electronic device V of the RC delay circuit 14 by connecting the anode of tube V4 through 470 micromicrofarad condenser C22 to the grid of tube V5. The tube V5 which is normally conducting, is cut-off due to the initialnegative pulse of wave e. Due to 1 stray capacitance, the anode of tube V4 and the control grid of tube V5 are prevented from returning to normal potential during the intervals V1 from the negative between successive timing pulses b while the wave d remains positive and tube V5 therefore remains cut-off throughout the period of the positive pedestal control of wave d.

Anode potential is supplied to tube V5 by connecting its anode through 0.15 megohm resistor R28 to the negative terminal of resistor R28, the cathode being grounded. The control electrode of the tube is. positively biased by connecting it through 2.2 megohm resistor R25 to the negative terminal of resitor R28. The negative terminal of resistor R28 is also connected through 0.1 megohm resistor R21 and 470 micromicrofarad condenser C23 to ground and the screen grid of tube V5 is connected to the common terminal of condenser C23. and resistor R21 for supplying positive potential thereto. The anode of tube V5 is connected directly to the control grid of tube VBA and through micromicrofarad variable condenser C24 to ground. Anode'potential is supplied to tube VGA by connecting the anode through 0.22 megohm resistor R29 to the negatime terminal of resistor R28. There is provided a current path from the negative terminal of resistor R28 through 0.1 megohm resistor R32, 20,000 ohm potentiometer RM and 47,000 ohm resistor R30 to ground. The variable tap of the potentiometer R3l is connected to the cathode and through 0.001 microfarad condenser C25 to ground for biasing the cathode positively to make tube VGA normally non-conducting. While the control electrode of tube V5 is biased positively, its plate rests at only a few volts above ground potential, condenser C24 being almost completely discharged. When the tube V5 is rendered non-conducting due to the negative potential impressed upon its control grid, the condenser C24 is charged exponentially with a time constant which is linearly adjustable by varyingthe capacity of condenser C24, the setting of which may be varied by turning the knob 55 on its rotor shaft. When the resulting potential at the grid of tube VGA has increased sufilciently, space current commences to flow suddenly to cause the production of a negative pulse, 9 at the anode.

This negative pulse is impressed upon the pulse amplifier l5, comprising electronic devices VBB and V], by connecting the 4'70 micromicrofarad condenser C28 from the anode of tube VGA to the control grid of tube VBB, the control grid being connected to groundthroughthe 1 meg ohm resistor R33. The anode current path of trlode V6B may be traced from the negative terminal of resistor R28 through 22.000 ohm resistor R35 to the anode, and from the cathode through 470 ohm resistor R34 shunted by 0.0033 mlcrofarad condenser C21 to ground. The anode of tube VGB is connected through 100 micromicrofarad condenser C28 and 0.1 megohm ground and the common terminal of the condenser and resistor is connected to the control grid of tube V1. Positive biasing potential is provided for the cathode of tube V1 by connecting it to the common terminal of the potential dividing resistors R40 (0.22 megohm) and R39 (22,000 ohms) which are connected in series between the negative terminal of resistor R28 and ground. the resistor R39, being shunted by 0.0033 microfarad condenser C3l. Anode potential is applied to tube terminal of resistor R28 through 0.1 megohm resistor R38. Screen grid potential is applied to tube V'l from the negative terminal of resistor R28 through 22,000 ohm test and the output pulses i from similar to the wave r terminal of resistor R36 and the screen grid being connected through 470 micromicrofarad condenser 030 to. ground. The anode of tube V1 is connected through 0.001 microfarad condenser esistor R36. the common 56, are impressed upon the range unit I! under are impressed upon the vertical 2| of the cathode raytube 20.

There is provided a multivibrator 62 similar to the multivibrator l2 comprising the triodes V3A and V3B.

a positive timing pulse and the negative halfwave will be started coincidentally with a. negative timing pulse. A pedestal potential wave 0, cl of Fig. 3, produced at the pulses m superimp. coincidentally with timing pulses m but at a rate 01 ray tube pulses q are impressed upon one of the vertical deflecting plates 10 of the cathode ray tube. The sine wave from oscillator 60 1s also-impressed upon a circuit comprising In Fig. 6 there is disclosed a range or distance indicator embo cathode ray tube screen produced by the echo pulses remains stationary upon the screen, when the object from which the echoes are received is independently of changes in frequency vided for impressing avoltage ence which otherwise thephase shifter operation, the phase of the range series of pulses which are tionship between of the pulses from amplifier 84. A noise voltage source 83, such as a buzzer or oscillator, is proupon the multivibrator circuit to cause the frequency of the multivibrator wave to vary whil maintaining the start of each cycle coincident with a selected one ofthe timing pulses. It is desirable that the a frequency of the multivibrator and, therefore, the

frequency of recurrence of the transmitted pulses should vary in order to avoid or reduce interferwould occur when several range indicators are being operated in close proximity.

There are also provided a phase shifter 88 for shiftingthe phase of the sine wave from oscillator B and for supplying the phase shifted wave to atiming pulse generator'iiil. Pulses from the pulse amplifier 84 are impressed upon a startstop circuit, the output wave of which is impressed upon the input circuit of a pulse selector and amplifier 9| together with the timing pulses from the generator 90. The start-stop circuit 81, Y 88, timing pulse generator 90 and pulse selector 9i may be the same as the corresponding parts disclosed in my application,

Serial No. 505,024; As therein disclosed, the con- 'denser shaft of the phase shifter and the po tentiometer shaft of the pulse selector are connected through gears 93 and there is provided an indicator 89 on theshaft of phase shifter 88. The

pulses produced-at the output of the pulse selector 9| are in synchronism with the pulses produced at the output of the pulse amplifier 8B but are delayed with respect to corresponding pulses from the pulse amplifier by an amount which may be varied continuously by rotating the shaft of phase shifter 88. The range selector 9| are impressedupon fiecting plate I02 of the cathode ray tube.

pulses from the the vertical de- In pulses from the pulse selector BI is shifted to bring the indication corresponding to these pulses on the screen of the cathode rayv tube into alignment with the indication produced by the echo pulses from the receiver 95. The distance of the object may then be read directly from the indicator 89 which is preferably calibrated in units of distance.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, means for generating a continuous constant frequency alternating wave, means for producing under control of said wave a first series of pulses having a constant frequency of recurrence which is controlled in accordance with the frequency of said alternating wave, means for producing pulses having a longer period than that of said first series of pulses, means under pulses of said second series for producing a third delayed with respect to the corresponding pulses of said second series by an interval which may vary, the phase relathe pulses of said first and second series being such that successive pulses of said third series are coincident with pulses of said first series.

2, Electric delay measuring apparatus comprising means for generating a continuous constant frequency alternating wave, means under control of said wave for pulses having a producing a first series of similar frequency of recurrence equal to the frequency of said wave, means under control of said wave for producing a second series of pulses of said second series a second series of series of pulses which are delayed with respect to corresponding pulses of said second series by an interval which may vary, and means for indicating said delay interval comprising means for shifting the phase of the pulses of one of said first and second series to bring said delayed pulses of said third series into coincidence with pulses of said first series.

3. Electric delay measuring apparatus comprising means for generating a continuous constant means under control of said wave for producing a first series of similar pulses having a frequency of recurrence equal to the frequency of said wave, means under control of said wave for producing a second series of pulses the period of which is an integral multiple of that of said firstserie of pulses, means under control of the pulses of said second series for producing a third series of pulses having the same period as the pulses of said second series and which are delayed with respect to corresponding pulses of said second series by intervals which may vary, and means utilizing pulses of said first series for indicating said delay.

4. Electric delay measuring apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which are provided a cathode ray device having a luminescent screen, means for generating a cathode ray beam and the cathode ray beam, means under control of pulses of said first and third series of pulses for causing a deflection of said cathode ray beam along one coordinate, means for producing a substantially linear sweep wave synchronized with the pulses of said second series of pulses, and means under control of said sweep wave for deflecting said cathode ray beam along a second coordinate.

5. Electric delay measuring apparatus comprising a generator of a continuous constant frequency alternating wave,a cathode ray device having means for directing a cathode ray beam to a luminescent screen and means for deflecting the beamalong two coordinates, means for producing a first series of pulses the frequency of recurrence of which is determined by the frequency of said wave, means for producing a second series of pulses the period of which may vary but which is at all times an integral multiple of the period of the first series, means for producing under control of the pulses of said second series a third series of pulses the period of which is equal to that of said second series but which are delayed with respect to corresponding pulses of said second series by intervals which may vary, means for causing said cathode ray beam to be repeatedly deflected along one of said coordinates at a rate of repetition corresponding to the period of the second series of pulses, means under control of said first and third series of pulses for causing the deflection of said cathode ray' beam along the second of said coordinates, and means for measuring changes in said delay interval comprising means'for changing the phase relationship of the pulses of the first and third se ies for bringing pulses of said first series into coincidence with pulses of said third series.

6. Electric delay measuring apparatus comprising a, generator of a continuous constant frequency alternating wave, means under control of said wave for producing a first series of pulses having a period which is an integral multiple of the period of said wave. means for producing under control of the pulses of said first series a second series of pulses having a period equal to that of said first series but which are delayed i of said first series for of pulses the period directing a cathode ray with respect to corresponding pulses of said first series by intervals which may vary, means under control of said wave for producing a third series of pulses having a period equal to that of said first and second series of pulses, means for shifting the phase of the pulses of said third series with respect to the pulses of said first series for bringing the pulses of said third series into coincidence with corresponding pulse of said second series, thereby making the delay of the pulses of said third series with respect to corresponding pulses of said first series equal to the delay of pulse of said second series with respect to corresponding pulses of said first series, and means for indicating said delay.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which means are provided for producing a visual indication of the phase relationship of the pulses of said second series with respect to the pulses of said third series, said means comprising a cathode ray device having a luminescent screen upon which an indication is produced in accordance with the deflection of a cathode ray beam, means for repeatedly deflecting said beam along one coordinate at a frequency of repetition corresponding' to the period of pulses, and means for deflecting said beam along another coordinate under control of the pulses of said second and third series of pulses.

8. Electric delay measuring apparatus comprising a generator of a continuous constant frequency alternating wave, means forproducing under control of said wave a first series of pulses having a period which is an integral multiple of the period of said wave, means for causing the period of said first series of pulses to vary while maintaining said period-at an integral multiple of the period of said alternating wave, means for producing under control of said pulses of said first series a second series of pulses having a period equal to the period of said first series of pulses but which are delayed by varying amounts with respect to the corresponding pulses of said first series, means under control of said alternating wave and said first series of pulses for producing a third series of pulses having a period equal to that of said first series of pulses, means for continuously shifting the phase of the pulses of said third series to bring them into coincidence with corresponding pulses of said second series, thereby-making the delay of the pulses of said third series with pulses of said first series equal to the delay of the pulses of said second series with respect to corresponding pulses of said first series, and means coupled to said phase shifting means for indicating said delay. I

9. In an electric delay measuring apparatus,

' a generator of a continuous constant frequency alternating wave, means for producing a first series of periodically recurring pulses having a frequency of recurrence equal to the frequency of said wave, means under control of the pulses generating a second series of which is an integral multipleof the period of said first series of pulses. means for shifting the phase of the pulses of said second series with respect to pulses of said first series, a cathode ray device having means for beam upon a luminescent screen, means under control of the pulses of said second series for causing said beam to be repeatedly deflected along one coordinate at a frequency of repetition corresponding to the period of said second series of pulses, and means under one of said series of respect to corresponding coordinate due to control of the pulses of said first series for causing said beam to be defiectedalong a second coordinate, whereby there is produced upon said screen a visual indication ofa plurality of the pulses of said first series simultaneously which indication is shifted in the direction of said first a phase shift of the pulses of said second series.

10. An electric delay measuring apparatus comprising means for generating a continuous constant frequency alternating wave, means for producing a first .series of periodically recurring pulses having a frequency of recurrence equal to the frequency of said wave, means under control of pulses of said first series for generating a second series of pulses having a period which is an integral multiple of the period of said first series of pulses, means for shifting the phase of the pulses of said second series with respect to pulses of said first series, means for producing a third series of pulses similar to said second series but which are delayed with respect to corresponding pulses of, said second series by an amount which mayvary, a cathode ray device having means for directing a cathode ray beam upon a luminescent screen, means under control of pulses of said secondseries for causing said beam to be repeatedly deflected along one coordinate at a frequency of repetition corresponding to the period of said second series of pulses, andmeans under control of the pulses of said first and third series for causing said beam to be deflected along a second coordinate, whereby there is produced upon said screen a visual indication corresponding to said first and third series of pulses, the position upon the screen of said first series of pulses varying in accordante with said phase'shift and the position upon said screen of the visual indication corresponding to said third series of pulses varying in accordance with the amount of said delay.

11. An electric delay measuring apparatus comprising a generator of a continuous constant requencyalternating wave, means for producing a first series of periodically recurring pulses having a frequency of recurrence equal to the frequency of said wave, means under control of pulses of said first series for generating a second seriesof pulses and a third series of pulses, each of said second and third series having a period which is an integral multiple of the period of said first series of pulses, means for shifting the phase of the pulses of said third series with respect to the pulses of said second series, a cathode ray device having means for directing a cathode ray beam upon a luminescent screen, means under pulses, means for producing a fourth series of pulses similar. to said third series of pulses but which are delayed with respect to corresponding pulses of said third series by an amount which may vary, means'for utilizing said first series of pulses and said fourth series of pulsesto cause said beam to be deflected along a second coordinate to produce upon said screen a visual indication corresponding to said first and fourth series of pulses, the position upon the screen of the visual indication corresponding to said first series of pulses being fixed and that corresponding to the fourth series of pulses varying in accordance with changes of said phase shift and changes of said delay.

12. In combination, means for generating a continuous constant frequency alternating wave, means under control of said wave for producing a series of similar pulses having a period equal to the period of said wave, a multivibrator for generating an output wave having a period which is at least several times the period of said alternating wave, means for impressing upon said multivibrator a wave for causing the period of the mul tivibrator output wave to vary, and means for impressing said pulses upon said multivibrator for causing successive cycles of the output wave produced by said multivibrator to be started in response to and coincidently with pulses, respectively, of said series of pulses which are spaced by unequal time intervals, thereby causing the period of said multivibrator output wave to be a changing integral multiple of the period of said pulses.

13. Means for measuring the delay interval be- 4 tween pulses of a series of input pulses impressed upon a variable delay system and corresponding pulses of a series of output pulses delivered by said system in response to the input pulses impressed thereon comprising means for generating a constant frequency alternating wave, means for producing under control of said wave a first series or similar pulses having a; fixed period of. recurpressing said first series of pulses upon said multivibrator circuit for initiating coincidentally with pulses of said first series conduction in a space discharge device of said pair which was previously non-conducting and interrupting conduction in a space discharge device of said pair which was previously conducting, thereby causing thepulses of said series of input pulses to have a period of recurrence which may vary but which is at all times an integral multiple of the period of recurrence of said pulses of said first series, a cathode-ray device having means for directing a cathode-ray beam upon a luminescent screen, means under control of said input pulses for causing said beam to be repeatedly deflected along one coordinate at a frequency of repetition corresponding to the period of said input pulses,,

means for impressing upon said cathode-ray device said series of output pulses and said first series of pulses for causing said cathode-ray beam to be deflected along a second coordinate and means for varying by known amounts the time of occurrence of said input pulses each with respect to a preceding pulse of said first series of pulses which is coincident with the starting of conduction in one of said space the interruption of conduction in the other of rence determined by the period of said wave,

means for producing said series of input pulses comprising a space discharge device and means for causing said device to conduct space current intermittently during periods which are long relative to the period of recurrence ofsaid first series of pulses, means for impressing said first series of pulses upon said input pulse producing means for initiating conduction of space current in said device coincidentally with pulses oi said first series of pulses, thereby causing the pulses of said series of input pulses to have a period of recurrence which may vary but which is at all times an integral multiple of the period of recurrence of said pulses of said first series. a cathode-ray device having means for directing a cathode-ray beam upon a luminescent screen, means under control of said input pulses for causing said beam to be repeatedly deflected along one coordinate at a frequency of repetition corresponding to the period of said input pulses, means for impressing upon said cathode-ray device said series of output pulses and a second series of pulses having a period equal to the period of said first series of pulses or an integral multiple thereof for causing said cathode-ray beam to be deflected along a second coordinate and means for varying by known amounts the delay interval between pulses of said second series of pulses and corresponding pulses of said series of input pulses.

14. Means for measuring the delay interval between pulses of a series of input pulses impressed upon a variable delay system and corresponding pulses of a series of output pulses delivered by said system in response to the input pulses impressed there'on comprising means for generating a continuous constant frequency alternating wave, means for producing under control of said wave a first series of similar pulses having a said space discharge devices.

15. Means for measuring the delay interval between pulses of a series of input pulses impressed upon a variable delay system and corresponding pulses of a series of output pulses delivered by said system in response to the input pulses impressed thereon comprising a source of constant frequency alternating voltage, means for producing under control of said alternating voltage a first series of alternately positive and negative pulses having a fixed period of recurrence determined by the period of said alternating voltage, means for producing said series of input pulses comprising a space discharge device and means for causing said device to conduct space current intermittently during periods which are long relative to the period of recurrence of said first series of pulses, means for impressing said first series of pulses upon said input pulse producing means for initiating conduction of space current in said device coincidentally with pulses of said first series of pulses, thereby causing the pulses of said series of input pulses to have a period of recurrence which may vary but which is at all times an integral multiple of the period of recurrence of said pulses of said first series. a cathode-ray device having means for directing a cathode-ray beam upon a luminescent screen, means under control of said input pulses for causing said beam to be repeatedly deflected along one coordinate at a frequency of repetition corresponding to the period of said input pulses,

means under control of voltage from said alternating voltage source for producing a second series of pulses having'a period of recurrence equal to the period of recurrence of the pulses of said first series. means for impressing upon said cathode-ray device said output puses and said pulses of said second series for controlling the deflection of said cathode=ray beam along a second coordinate and means for shifting the phase of the voltage from said source supplied to said means for producing said second series of pulses for correspondingly changing by known amounts the delay of said pulses of said second series with respect to corresponding pulses of said first series.

16. Meansfor measuring the delay interval bedischarge devices and voltage, means for producing said series of input 10 said source and said input pulses for settin up pulses comprising a space discharge device and a ec nd series f pul ha ng a period of remeans for causing said device to conduct space currence equal to that of said input pulses, means current intermittently during periods which are under control of said second series of pulses and long relative to the period of recurrence of said saidv output pulses nt ling the deflection first series of pulses, means fOl impressing said 15 of said cathode-lay beam along a second coorfirst series of pulses upon said input puls pro dinate and means for delaying the pulses of said pulses of said series of input pulses to have a 20 period of recurrence which may vary but which is LARNED WACHAIW Disclaimer 2,414,477.Lamed A. Meaeham, Summit, N. J. INDICATING APPARATUS. Patent dated Jan. 21, 1947. Disclaimer filed Nov. 18, 1949, by the assignee, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claim 6 in said patent.

[Oflicial Gazette January 3, 1950.]

Disclaimer 2,414,477.Lamed A. Mmcham, Summit, N. J. INDICATING APPARATUS. Patent dated Jan. 2-1, 1947. Disclaimer filed Nov. 18, 1949, by the assignee, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claim 6 in said patent.

[Ofiicia-l Gazette January 8, 1950.] 

